Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-12-26
agricultural department.
Poultry Notes,


cog as Il nest egg. The use OF sue
eggs is not only filthy practice, a
they often get broken in the nest, bu
they also find their way into the egs
basket and to the market stalls, TIT
consequence being that the reputation
of the seller is greatly injured Th'
best nest egg is the egg gourd, which
any one can grow.
WATER FOR THE EGGs.-An egg j:
nearly all water, and the water mus
be provided, or laying will be an i'm
possibility. In winter the hens otter
suffer for water because the cold seals
it up so that they cannot drink it. In
such cases water the fowls three times
day, giving warm water, which viii
refresh and stimulate them. They
will drink it readily, and if given the
water at regular periods, will soon
learn to come up for it as for then
food.
ENDEAvoR To LEARN.-When you
visit a poultry yard always observe
everything. Something can be gained
from 4 novice, for though he may
make ninety-nine errors, yet the one
hundredth may be correct, and i'm
part a valuable hint. There is moth
ing like experience, but it is not al
ways economical to pay dearly for
experience when it is unnecessary.
Do not have too many theories, but
endeavor to follow the practices Of
those who have been successful.
Fowls EATING NEST HAY.-One of
the surest indications of a lack of
bulky food is when the hens eat the
material provided for their nests. 1t
does not imply that green food is re-
quired, but that in addition to the
grain the hens need something bulky
and of a less concentrated character,
such as potatoes OF chopped hay.
The way to provide for them is to
cut clover Tor other good hay) into
half-inch lengths, scald it and feed
it warm.
SALT N THE FooD.-Salt is neces-
sary substance, and enters largely
into the composition of the flesh,
blood and bones, but it is also found
in nearly all kinds of foods. 1t assists
in digestion, however, and should be
given to poultry as well as animals.
If allowed in excess it is injurious,
producing intense thirst, and often
causes death, but if the food is slight
" sailed, so as to season it somewhat,
the fowls will relish their meal and
enjoy the saline taste. \ level tea
spoonful of salt to two quarts of dry
ground grain is the proper proportion.
GRAVEL AND SHELLs.-Sharp grav-
el and coarse hard oyster shells will
be of great advantage to poultry now,
as they require some assistant in the
matter of grinding the food. Many
cases of bowel disease occur from
lack of gravel, and when the ground
is frozen it is difficult for them to Sc
cure a supply. Sharp pointed oys-
ter shells are excellent, and so are
sea shells or anything of a sharp,
hard, irregular character. Broken
pottery, pounded, will be accepted by
the hens, and glass has been USED
without injury, but sharp gravel i.
the best material.
FEEDING BRAN.-Bran is a light
and bulky food, containing, according
TO claims, nearly all the elements OF
nutrition. but it should be used fol
poultry only in connection with othel
ground food, as it at times causes the
bowels TO become disordered, being
somewhat laxative when fed eXclu
sively. 1t is the best ground foo
for laying hens, as it does not tenC
to fatten as quickly as a mixed grain
diet. The best mode of feeding braI
is to mix four parts bran with on,
part middlings, scald well, and feet
warm. 1t is not good food for youn:
chicks compared with other kinds.
GIVE PLENTY OF RoosT.-Giv,
plenty of roost room. A hen doe.
not require much room, as dozen o.
them can easily arrange themselvei
on a roost six feet long, but durine
the night single restless hen mayAI
they are crowded, throw the whole OF
the perch. A foot of space on tx
roost is not too much for the hens
That Is. ten hens should have perch
ten feet long, as they often turn while
on the perch during the night. In
summer the lack of room cahses much
discomfort, while in winter the. fowls
are often too closely crowded to rest
well.
BONE MEAL II FoQD.-Some kinds
of bone meal viii be rejected by the
hens on account of its disagreeable
odor. The best bone meal is that
from the button factories, but any
kind will answer if the hens will eat
it. Clean, coarse bone meal, free
from all odor, may be placed in boxes
where the hens can eat all they wish,
but the best mode of feeding that
containing odor is to mix it with the
soft food, and then add little GIN
ger, or other substance of like char
acter, TO disguise the Odor. Any
quantity may be fed, but gill pei
day is sufficient for twenty hens. II
contains quite proportion of nitro
gen, and also supplies phosphates